AMBER-LEA MARIE
Special to The NEWS
Dawn Menard was thinking of someone special when she jumped into the frigid waters of the Salish Sea on Sunday, one of more than 200 participants in this year’s Polar Bear Splash on Parksville Beach.
“This year I’m going to leave flowers out in the water for my mom, because she passed away just before Christmas,” said Menard, wearing a purple wig and polka-dot hat. “She always loved that I did this crazy, wild thing, so I’m doing this for her this year.”
Expectations were exceeded as choppy waters and freezing wind-chills didn’t stop diehards from donning costumes and participating in Parksville’s 27th annual Polar Bear swim on Sunday.
“It’s an interesting thing being suited up out there and watching 150-200 people run into the water,” said an Arroswmith Search and Rescue member (ASAR). “Last year was the most we’ve ever had, the numbers just kept going up.”
While ASAR set up, the Parkville Volunteer Fire Department members gathered near the boardwalk as locals and out-of-towners assembled in line for registration.
“It’s nice to support our local community,” said Andrew Wiersma, member of PVFD. “And it’s always fun to show youngsters the fire truck.”
As the registration line whittled down, participants lined the boardwalk in quirky costumes. Best friends and schoolmates, Ryder Levins, London Keller and Emerson Harvey (all nine years old), huddled together while onlookers gave thumbs up for creativity.
“We’re going to stay in there for 10 seconds,” said Keller in his clown costume about the plan for the friends.
Though the weather was expected to be colder than usual this year, it didn’t halt participants, as the attendance numbers surpassed many people’s expectations.
“We broke the 200 mark which was awesome,” said Samantha Oliver, supervisor of registration. “We had 204 people register this year. The RDN has been organizing it,” Oliver said, “But it definitely takes a community to create an event like this.”
